Uruguay
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
Restrictions on entry to Uruguay
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Uruguay based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Uruguay does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Uruguay
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Uruguay based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Uruguay does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
Among the requirements to obtain a temporary residence in Uruguay is to have a Health Card, according to the Decree N° 387/976 of Regulation of the Obligatory of the Health Card Issued by the Ministry of Public Health. Among the tests required to obtain this card is a serological response to syphilis, however, there is no requirement of HIV testing.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Uruguay
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Uruguay based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Uruguay does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
Among the requirements to obtain the definitive residence in Uruguay is to have a Health Card, according to the Decree N° 387/976 of Regulation of the Obligatory of the Health Card Issued by the Ministry of Public Health. As above, there is a requirement for syphilis test, but no HIV test.
Treatment access in Uruguay
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Uruguay. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
IOM reports that in Uruguay, non-nationals have the same status as nationals in areas such as health, education, social protection and work. Article 8 of the Migration Act (Legislative Act No. 18.250 of 2008) states that migrants and their family members shall enjoy rights to health, work, social security, housing and education on an equal footing with nationals, and that such rights shall be protected and safeguarded for nationals and non-nationals alike. Non-nationals can register with the State health services free of charge (the National Health Fund and the State Health Services Administration) by presenting a valid identity card. Additional documentation may be required depending on the person’s legal status in the country. Health services include primary care (basic, low-complexity health services, such as preventive care services) and secondary care (hospital care and treatment in different medical specialties), as well as emergency services.
Uruguay has national legislation regulating immigration and emigration. The Migration Act applies to the ‘admission, entry, stay and departure of persons in the national territory’. The decree regulating the Migration Act sets out the specific conditions applicable to entry, departure and stay, as well as relations with Uruguayans abroad. It also establishes a legal framework that guarantees migrants access to and enjoyment of the rights to health, work, social services and education on an equal footing with nationals. Uruguay has a comprehensive national strategy for migration. In September 2016, the Uruguayan Government issued the Migration Policy Framework Document for Uruguay, which was developed by JNM in cooperation with various ministries, agencies and State actors involved in migration issues – such as the Ministry of Education and Culture, the State Health Services Administration (Administración de los Servicios de Salud del Estado, ASSE) and the Uruguayan Parliament. The document sets out objectives, principles and general strategic guidelines for the State’s migration policy in the short, medium and long term. The general principles underlying the policy are respect for human rights, non-discrimination, social integration, respect for diversity, gender equality and the comprehensive protection of migrants.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
There is no known HIV criminalisation in Uruguay. We are not aware of any HIV-specific criminal laws in force, and there have been no reported prosecutions for alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission under general criminal laws.
Visit the Uruguay page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.